Plymouth XNR on the Auction Block – 2012 Monterey Auctions

Had the 1960 Plymouth XNR reached production, it could have given the Chevrolet Corvette a run for its money. But the idea of a Plymouth-badged sports car eventually faded away (with the exception of many awesome muscle cars soon to come). There is no doubt this asymmetrically-styled, 2-seat sports coupe is the work of legendary designer Virgil Exner – did you notice the car is called the XNR? Based on the unibody platform found in the Plymouth Valiant compact, the XNR had a 170-cid inline-6, tilted at a 30-degree angle, under the hood.

Capable of being tuned up to 250 horsepower, the XNR stood only 43 inches tall and was clocked at 146-mph during high speed testing. One of the car's most dramatic visual features is the offset hood scoop that leads over the driver's side of the car and back into a single tailfin. To drive the point home this car was all about the driver, the passenger seat was mounted four inches lower and lacked the padded headrest offered in the driver's seat. Road & Track thought the XNR was noteworthy enough to make it the cover car for the May 1960 issue.